Book toy



Jan. 16, 194.5. R. RALsToN l BooK TOY v Filed May 27, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 1 ZHLFH- LIDL/q1, STDN 3M ///mm Jan.l 16, v1945.

R. L. RALsToN BOOK vTOY Filed may 27, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 l* l r.

Patented Jan. 1'6, 1945 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE BooK 'roY- y n v Ralph L Ralston, jackson, Mich.

f Application May 27, 1942, seria1N0. 444,6s1

l s claims. (o1. Lis-'34) The present'invention relates to toys and morel particularly to book toy combinations movable parts providing'action.

Childrens action toys have ther having vto, the present invention I have combined the advantage of a book providing a plurality of rige ures with toys providing action, so that the toy provides not only action, but the figure of which it consists may be made to take any one of a plurality of forms by the simple expedient of turning over pages liketurning over the pages ofabook.

An object of the present invention is to provide a book toy. v

Another object of the invention is toprovide a book toy having moving parts which provide action. y l

Still another object of the A'invention is to provide a book toy having one or more projecting movable members associated therewith which are operativeA upon the actuation of a projecting member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a figure having front and back faces.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a gure having front 4and back faces, a

portion of the figure being visible through open- .cation when taken y with they accompanying drawings in which f Fig. 1 kis a perspective view of a book` toy according to the present invention,

Fig. 2 is anelevation of the base of the toy pages thereof removed and showing the operative mechanism of the toy, t i

Fig. 3 is a view of one side of a double 4page of the book associated with the toy of Fig. l, Fig, iis the reverse side of the double page disclosedin Fig. 3,

disadvantagey of consisting of single gures withfthe result Fig. 5 is'a perspective view'of another embodiment of the invention in the form of a doll,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of the base of the toy of Fig. 7 having one side thereof removed and showing the operative mechanism thereof,

' Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. Sis an illustration of a double page of the toy disclosed in Fig. 9, and

Fig. 9 is an illustration of another double page of the toy disclosed in Fig. 9.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings wherein there is disclosed an embodiydisclosed in Fig. 1, disclosing one side and the l cus Wagon is revealed. Each animal has an eye opening 9 behind which an eye pupil I0 is visible. The animal tail 1, the clown ligure 8 and the eye pupil Il] are movable and are actuated 'by the mechanism'disclosed in Fig. 2 when the wheel 5I is rotated.

As shown in Fig. 2, the eye pupil l0 is marked on a plate II, the plate II being guided for verticalreciprocation in Ways I2. Theplate Il is connected by a link I3 eccentrically to the wheel 5 so that as the wheel 5 rotates, it serves as a crank to constitute the link I3 a connecting rod to reciprocate the plate I I in the Ways I2. A second eye pupil I0 is marked on the reverse side vof the plate II directly opposite the eye pupil IIl shown in Fig. 2 and is visible from the opposite side of -the base I through ankopening I4 in the back face 2, the opening I4 being shown in dotted `outline in Fig. 2.

The tail 'l constitutes one end of a `lever I5 pivoted to the back face 2 of the base I by a pin I6. The inner end of the lever I5 is piv' otally connected to a linkll which in turn is pivotally connected to theV plate I'I. Likewise, the clown figure 8 constitutes one end of a lever 20 pivoted to the back face 2 of the base l by a pin 2l. The inner end of the lever 20 is pivotally connected to a link 22 which in turn is pivotally connected to theplate Il.` Thus, as the wheel 5 is rotated as by urging theedge of the same against a flat surface and moving the toy in the direction of the plane of the wheels, the eye pupils I9 are reciprocated and the tail 1 and clown figure 8 are rocked. There is provided an edging 23 around the back face 2, spaces being provided for the wheels 4 and 5, the tail 1 and the clown'flgure 8, for spacing the faces 2 and 3.

In Fig. 3 is disclosed a double page 24 which constitutes two of the pages 6. The double page 24 is connected along the dotted line 2G to the edge 25 of the base I. Each of the animal iiguresl illustrated on the double page 24 is provided `with an eye opening 9. The reverse side of the double page 24 is disclosed in Fig. 4. It will be `noted that on the reverse side there are different animal figures from those shown in Fig. 3, but that the eye openings 9 of Fig. 3 are the eye openings 9 of Fig. 4. When the pages 6, including those of double page 24, are assembled on the base yl as described, the eye openings 9 are positioned so as to be in alignment and in register with the eye "pupils IU on the plate Il, respectively. Furthermore, the animals should be so drawn as to cause the movable tail 1 to be in register with each of them. Thus, when the wheel 5 is rotated there is provided action by the movement of the clown figure 8, and the movement of the tail 'l and of the eye pupils I9, each of the latter appearing to be a part of the animal on the page viewed. It will be clear that as the pages are leafed over a diierent animal will appear on each side of the wagon and that when operated as described each animal will have a movable eye and tail.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that, while I have indicated animals may be shown as in cagesl on the side of a wagon, other illustrations may be provided. For instance, instead of illustrating a circus wagon, some other arrangement could be disclosed wherein the tail 1 could constitute a policemans club, for instance. Also, when used as a circus wagon the sameani mals could be shown simultaneously on opposite sides of the wagon rather than diierent animals.

Another embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein the toy is in the form of a doll having legs 55. The doll provided with a base 56 having a back face 51 and a front face 5S. The base 55 is provided with pages 59 corresponding to the pages 6 in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 through 4. The pages 59 are secured to the base 5B along the upper edge 69 thereof.

The operation of the toy disclosed .in Figs. 5 and 6 is such that when the legs 55 are squeezed inwardly the eye pupils 6I and the ears 62 move. The pages 59 may be designed with figures on both sides thereof so that as the pages are turned over an effect may be obtained corresponding to that obtained with the other embodiments of the in vention.

The mechanism for actuating the toy of Figs. 5 and 6 constitutes a plate 14 vertically recip rocable in ways 63. The plate 14 is resiliently urged upwardly by a spring 64 Aand is vmoved downwardly by a pair of links 65 pivotall'y connected to arms constituting inward extensions 'B6 of the legs 55. The legs 55 are pivoted to the back face 51 of the base 55 by pins 51. The ears 62 are supported in loose ways ES'a'nd are connected to the plate 14 at their inner ends by pivotal connections 69.

In operation, as the legs 55 are urged together.

they pivot about the ,pins 61 to urge the lower ends of the links 65 `apart to draw the plate 11i downwardly. It will be understood that the eye pupilsil are marked on both sides of the plate 14 and that in the back face 51 there are eye openings 1I corresponding to the eye openings 10 which it will be understood appear in each of the pages 59. When the plate 14 is'reciprocated vertically the eye pupils 6I and the ears 62 move. Different types of. gures may be presented to view by leang over the pages 59 in .a manner which will be understood from the description of the previously described embodiments of the invention.

Still another embodiment of theinvention is disclosed in Figs. "I, 8 and 9. In this form of the invention there is disclosed a house. This embodiment ol the invention is similar in operation and effect to the others previously described. There is provided a base 15 on which are mounted book pages v16. The book pages 16 are in the form of double pages 11 disclosed in Figs. 8 and 9. The attachment of the book pages i6 difers somewhat from the attachment of those described in the other embodiments of the invention in that the double pages are secured along the re spective dotted lines to opposite ends 18 and Et of the base 15. Thus, the pages 16 of the front and back of the base 15 open in the manner of double doors, swinging outwardly. It will of course be understood that when the page is swung outwardly from one side of the base 15 it is immediately folded about the opposite side of the base 15 and in the manner described with respect to the above described embodiments oi the invention will 'present new views on each side of the base 15.

Considering the structure more particularly as shown in Fig. 7, the toy is in the form of a house having a windmill 8D o-n the top thereof. The windmill is provided with vanes 3| rotatably mounted about a shaft 82. The shaft 82 is provided with a crank 83 shown in dotted outline which is pivoted to a connecting rod Btl which is in turn pivoted to a plate 85 shown in dotted outline and which is suitably 'guided for reciprocation in the base 15. On opposite sides of the plate 85 are provided eye pupils Swhich register with eye openings 81 which are provided in each of the pages 1 6. Also not shown are suitable openings in thefront and rear faces of the base 15 registering with the eye openings 81 for permitting the eye pupils "86 to be seen through. the eye openings 81. The vanes l8| may be rotated by hand or by a fan to reciprocate the plate 85 to cause the eye pupils 85 to move. In the particular illustration of the invention as viewed in Fig. '1, the eye openings 81 are arranged to be a part of a portrait in a picture frame 88 hanging on the wall of a room. The picture in the picture Vframe may be a cartoon or the picture could be arranged to be a photograph pasted within the borders of the frame. l

On the opposite lside of the house is ldisclosed a room having a'replace therein. The replace is 'provided with a pane 89 of `transparent or 'translucent material Aon which is illustrated the interior of a ireplace including the fire therein. ln the base 15 there is provided an electric light not shown `connected to a source of electric power by a conventional cord 99. Thus, the light from the base 'i5 which it will be understood is visible from either side of the base 15 lights up the replace shown at the right side of Fig. '1.

In Fig. 8 there is .disclosed a double page 11 for connection along the edge 18 of the base 15. The illustrations on this doulble page 11 are of a character which could be used over the double y rst through the fireplace and then through the openings 93, 913 and 95 in the Christmas tree Well as broad interpretation. For instance, it is intended that faces designate the faces of persons or the faces of an object. Features for instance, is to be construed as meaning not only representing lights of a Christmas tree. At the,

opposite side of the base, wherein there is shown a scene illustrating an automobile, the light in the base l5 shines through the pages on the opposite side of the base l5 and through the openings corresponding to the headlights of the car.

vNote is made of the fact that thev automobile headlight openings 9| and 92 will register with the Christmas tree light openings 93 and 94, rel spectively, when the page illustrating the autoreplace.

In Fig. 9 a corresponding Kdoulole pageis shoWn for attachment along the side 19 of the hase 15. It Will be observed that the eye openings 81 in the pictures shown in Fig. 9 are positioned to register facial v,features of a person, but also broadly as features of a` construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is:

1. A book comprising a 'base and a pluralityl ofpages, each page having a design thereon,

. each page having a light transmitting area, said areas being in alignment and registering with a vxnolcile is folded over the page illustrating the predetermined portion of said llease, and means on 'said portion ofv said lease visible through said areas for effecting a change in said design, Where- :by as said pages are turned over said means effects a change in the appearance of each design.

2. .The invention as `defined in claim 1 wherein the base has means visible from opposite sides thereof,` and the pages have designs on both sides thereof, rwhereby when' a page is adjacent one side of the base one of said means is visible through one of said areas, and When the same page is on the opposite side of said, b'ase, another of said means is visible through the same area. .3. A toy in the form of a book consisting of a pluralitiT of leaves, supporting structure for the loook'ancl leaves including supporting Wheels, and common animation means cao-operating with each leafof the book. l

` RALPH L. RALSTON. 

